Demand of grain such as wheat, oilseeds and feed grain has been strongly increasing in Asia and Middle East due to continuous growth of population and changing dietary habit. In response to this situation, Sumitomo acquired 50% shares of a grain storage and export terminal operating company ABA from GrainCorp Limited in January 2005, which became the first foreign investment into Australian grain export terminal. Since then, Sumitomo continued to invest actively; it has acquired 50% shares of Emerald, a grain accumulation company, in March 2010, and also made ABA its wholly owned subsidiary a month later.

As a consequence of this integration, Emerald and Sumitomo will now be able to offer assured quality and service across the whole grain supply chain - origination, storage, logistics, port access and shipping, and marketing to overseas customers, responding the demands from overseas.

With this integration, Emerald will pursue to maximize the efficiency, and try to synergize both companies' business fields. Emerald targets to become one of the largest grain marketers in Australia by accumulating 10 million tonnes a year and taking 30% market share of Australian grains. Sumitomo, with its experience in Australia, will expand its grain business worldwide.